Closet under the stairs

[Scoutman]

So the new shop has this closet under the stairs that's a bit awkward. Just guessing it's about 3' wide and tapers all the way down to the floor. I was wanting to turn this into a chemical, paint, etc. storage closet but not sure how to lay it out. The previous owner had some wire shelving down one side which leaves little room to step inside. How would this be best to organize? Narrow shelves down each side?

I thought about wall-ing off the back 3' or so cause that space down in the back corner is just going to collect **** that's hard to get to and turn into a bug graveyard.

Ideas? I wish my parts washer would fit in here too but I think that's just going to be too much.

 

[Rated ///M]

I built a cabinet that fits inside to hold varying sizes of 2bys and scrap wood pieces. Then in the higher portions I built shelves to hold plastic tubs. Don't forget to use the back side of the door as well, if you have a nice door on there you can make a rattle can shelf that hangs off the door.

 

[Scoutman]

I'll try to get a better picture of it tonight.

 

[Nowater]

Can you put any access doors on the side to allow you to reach in?

 

[Scoutman]

Can you put any access doors on the side to allow you to reach in?

I could but that was where I had planned to put my workbench and frankly I'm not sure that I need to. Here's the side of the stairwell/closet.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Are the stairs a fire exit, if so I would no want paint and thinner stored there. Most commercial codes require fireproof construction for any structure under steps.

 

[crewchief888]

stuff your air compressor in there

 

[Scoutman]

Are the stairs a fire exit, if so I would no want paint and thinner stored there. Most commercial codes require fireproof construction for any structure under steps.

The upstairs is unfinished. It's not a living space but the only access to the upstairs is via the stairwell. It may get drywall and become my 'office' someday but right now it just stores the stuff that I don't want in the garage.

I will definitely have to do some storage on the inside of the door for items I get to often. My goal was to have all the chemicals etc away from any welding or metal work that may be going on in the garage.

 

[Scoutman]

stuff your air compressor in there

Trust me I thought about it. I have a back porch that it's getting ready to go on. Back corner on a heavy steel elevated platfrom. The far end of the porch may get framed in for garden stuff storage with the compressor to keep the neighbors happy.

 

[machine_punk]

I would build a roll-out unit which fits in there...make a shelving unit on wheels and pull the whole thing out when you need stuff. Have a solid front and taper it down to about a foot tall at the back. Have a vertical wall/edge down the center and install wire shelving on both sides. Fill it with whatever you want and roll it out when you need it.

Use solid (non-rotating) casters in the middle and rotating casters on both ends, so it can roll in and out straight, but still be adjusted and rolled to other areas of the shop, if needed.

On the right-hand wall, make a bunch of 4" deep shelves, tall enough for rattle cans, from floor to ceiling (or put hooks on the wall to store power cords, ropes, and air hoses).

M_P

 

[Angelfire]

I put a water heater in mine (not my shop but the same situation).